Bail ruling a blow for prosecutions against Estradas

The bail granted to ousted Philippine president Joseph Estrada's son, Jinggoy, is a significant blow to the prosecution, according to both his allies and critics.

In a 31-page decision, the three-member special anti-graft court hearing the ex-president's cases unanimously ruled that of five witnesses who had implicated the young Estrada, four only had 'second-hand' knowledge of the alleged corruption.

Jinggoy was released on bail on Friday after almost two years in detention.

The court said the prosecution's star witness, former Ilocos Sur governor Luis Singson - who had provided the only direct evidence - had failed to show 'conspiracy between the father and son, express or implied'.

It was Mr Singson who had triggered Estrada's ouster by accusing him of collecting 545 million pesos (HK$77.55 million) of bribe money from illegal gambling bosses. Of the amount, 2 million pesos went to Jinggoy during his father's 31-month presidency, Mr Singson had claimed.

He also accused Jinggoy of pocketing part of the 130 million pesos worth of excise taxes intended for poor tobacco farmers but allegedly diverted to Estrada, his family, and some friends.

The court said there was no 'act or circumstance from which may be logically inferred the existence of actual co-operation', so 'the theory of conspiracy between father and son appears to remain a speculation and not a fact'.